A respected dentist from Virginia Beach was allegedly stabbed to death by his daughter in his home during what police say was a ‘domestic dispute’.
On Saturday morning Dr. Abbey Horwitz, 68, was discovered by police suffering from multiple stab wounds and pronounced dead at the scene, Virginia Beach Police Department said in a press release.
His 34-year-old daughter, Norah Horwitz, was arrested and charged with second degree murder and stabbing charges and is being held at the Virginia Beach Jail.
She appears in jail records as Michael and was said by police to be transitioning.
The Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office said they were monitoring her in the jail and that she had been placed on suicide watch, the Virginian-Pilot reported.
Dr. Abbey Horwitz (pictured), 68, was a respected dentist in Virginia Beach who was allegedly stabbed by his daughter on Saturday morning
The dentist’s 34-year-old daughter, Norah Horwitz, was arrested and charged with 2nd degree murder and stabbing charges
The Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office said they were monitoring Horwitz and that she had been place on suicide watch in the Virginia Beach Jail
Police were called to Horwitz’s home at 1304 Wren Place in the Birdneck Point neighborhood of Virginia Beach at 8.54am on Saturday, according to the press release.
Around 20 minutes later, at 9.13am, they said he was pronounced dead by EMS.
Horwitz appeared in court on Monday morning via a video call and was appointed a public defender to take on her case by the judge, local station WTKR reported.
Footage obtained by the station shows Horwitz in her jail cell.
A bond hearing was scheduled for Tuesday but she reportedly withdrew the hearing while she figured out other legal counsel.
Abbey Horwitz was from the Bronx and studied at the Virginia School of Dentistry in Richmond before moving to Virginia Beach, according to a website dedicated to his dental practice The Art of Dentistry.
He was active in the local Jewish community and volunteered dental services in Israel, Romania, the former Soviet Union and Nicaragua.
Police were called to Horwitz’s home at 1304 Wren Place in the Birdneck Point neighborhood of Virginia Beach (pictured) at 8.54am on Saturday
Norah Horwitz is pictured appearing in court on Monday via a video call and was assigned a public defender to take on her case
The suspect, Norah Horwitz appears in jail records as Michael and is said to be transitioning
Horwitz ran his dentistry practice less than two miles from his home.
A local business owner and long-term client of Horwitz told WTKR that his death would be felt throughout the Virginia Beach community.
‘He was instrumental in helping us start here. He jumped right on board and gave us advice, came to our grand opening, without having to ask him,’ said Michele Nielson.
‘It was not uncommon for us to drive up to work and he’d have a whole mobile detailing place detailing the whole staff’s cars. Just that kind of generous spirit and you just don’t come across a lot any more,’ she added.
He also served as the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, which described him as a statement as a ‘wonderful man’.
A neighbor told the Virginian-Pilot that Horwitz would often host cookouts for his parents, children and grandchildren.
In Virginia Beach Horwitz ran a dentistry practice, The Art of Dentistry (pictured in March 2023), less than two miles from his home
Horwitz was from the Bronx and studied at the Virginia School of Dentistry in Richmond before moving to Virginia Beach
‘What I will always remember is he was always having his whole family together, kind of like “The Waltons,”‘ they said.
‘He seemed like the consummate family guy.’
A neighbor across the street, who asked not to be named, told the newspaper they were a dental patient of Abbey’s for five to 10 years.
‘Pretty good dude, solid guy, no issues. Family kind of took care of themselves. They’re good people it’s just really sad,’ the neighbor said.
